Jim Gallien was a man that Chris meets in the beginning of the book but at the end of his journey. He sees Chris with his thumb in the air and decides he looks like a good enough kid to give a ride to. After Chris tells him his plans to enter the Alaskan bush Jim attempts to tell Chris that he doesn't have nearly enough food or gear. Jim's first impression of Chris is a young man who wants to live out a "Jack London" novel just for the experience. Jim being a very honest man tells Chris that his excursion will not be easy by any means. Jim puts forward many attempts to dissuade Chris but it is hopeless because of Chris' strong will to enter the Alaskan Outback. Gallien was most certainly interested in what Chris was doing, subtly expressed by Jim giving Chris his number because Jim could probably care less about the boots; he really wanted to hear what happened and how it happened from Chris if he made it out. He was also concerned, for Chris, Jim offered to Take him to town and get him some significant gear and food, but Chris did not allow it.
Wayne Westerberg and Chris became very good friends over the period of time Chris stayed with him in Carthage. Wayne offered him a job and fed him, Chris made Wayne’s family his “surrogate family” because they were so good to him. Wayne had some very good morals but got himself into trouble while caught selling illegal cable boxes by the FBI. Wayne received letters every once in a while from Chris after he left. In my opinion Chris looked at Wayne like a father because of the things Wayne had taught him and by how Chris looked up to him. Wayne most likely did not forget the hard working boy with a mysterious story that left his family guessing anytime soon.
Walt, Billie, and Carine obviously deserve mention as characters Chris meets but there is no positive effect on one another because the reason Chris left his home and family in Virginia is his partially because of his family. Although they hired a private investigator (who didn’t do a significant job because he missed vital clues to Chris’ location) I am sure they would not know what to do or what to say if they actually found Chris because they were a reason he left in the first place.
Jan and Bob Burres were a very nice couple who thought the world of Chris. They sheltered him for a week but after that week they didn’t think he would keep in touch, he did every month or two. He finally ended up staying with them in a trailer park again where he met a girl named Tracy. She fell head over heels for Chris but Chris was too old for her and didn’t take her seriously thus breaking her heart. I think Jan and Bob saw Chris as sort of a son, he was such a nice kid and they wanted to teach him a couple things and how to make a life for himself.
Other characters worth mentioning are… Thomas and Karin, They camped at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with Chris and gave him a ride to Lake Mead. Lori Zarza, Chris’ superior at McDonalds, he had a strong hatred for her because of comments she made. But she said he was very dependable, but she was probably the resin for Chris’ departure. George Dreeszen, another co worker at McDonalds that spoke highly of Chris’ work ethics.
Jim Gallien was a man that Chris meets in the beginning of the book but at the end of his journey. He sees Chris with his thumb in the air and decides he looks like a good enough kid to give a ride to. After Chris tells him his plans to enter the Alaskan bush Jim attempts to tell Chris that he doesn't have nearly enough food or gear. Jim's first impression of Chris is a young man who wants to live out a "Jack London" novel just for the experience. Jim being a very honest man tells Chris that his excursion will not be easy by any means. Jim puts forward many attempts to dissuade Chris but it is hopeless because of Chris' strong will to enter the Alaskan Outback. Gallien was most certainly interested in what Chris was doing, subtly expressed by Jim giving Chris his number because Jim could probably care less about the boots; he really wanted to hear what happened and how it happened from Chris if he made it out. He was also concerned, for Chris, Jim offered to Take him to town and get him some significant gear and food, but Chris did not allow it.
Wayne Westerberg and Chris became very good friends over the period of time Chris stayed with him in Carthage. Wayne offered him a job and fed him, Chris made Wayne’s family his “surrogate family” because they were so good to him. Wayne had some very good morals but got himself into trouble while caught selling illegal cable boxes by the FBI. Wayne received letters every once in a while from Chris after he left. In my opinion Chris looked at Wayne like a father because of the things Wayne had taught him and by how Chris looked up to him. Wayne most likely did not forget the hard working boy with a mysterious story that left his family guessing anytime soon.
Walt, Billie, and Carine obviously deserve mention as characters Chris meets but there is no positive effect on one another because the reason Chris left his home and family in Virginia is his partially because of his family. Although they hired a private investigator (who didn’t do a significant job because he missed vital clues to Chris’ location) I am sure they would not know what to do or what to say if they actually found Chris because they were a reason he left in the first place.
Jan and Bob Burres were a very nice couple who thought the world of Chris. They sheltered him for a week but after that week they didn’t think he would keep in touch, he did every month or two. He finally ended up staying with them in a trailer park again where he met a girl named Tracy. She fell head over heels for Chris but Chris was too old for her and didn’t take her seriously thus breaking her heart. I think Jan and Bob saw Chris as sort of a son, he was such a nice kid and they wanted to teach him a couple things and how to make a life for himself.
Other characters worth mentioning are… Thomas and Karin, They camped at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with Chris and gave him a ride to Lake Mead. Lori Zarza, Chris’ superior at McDonalds, he had a strong hatred for her because of comments she made. But she said he was very dependable, but she was probably the resin for Chris’ departure. George Dreeszen, another co worker at McDonalds that spoke highly of Chris’ work ethics.